I often mention to Library customers that grant writing is a holistic process in which the entire nonprofit organization is evaluated from its leadership to its long-term sustainability and everything in between. More than just the grant proposal is considered in the funding decision. Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) understands the importance of solid nonprofit management and has curated several resources to help nonprofit agencies develop into organizations that are grant-worthy and add value to the community.

One resource is the Grantsmanship Collection, a print book collection housed in Main Library’s Business & Workforce section which features hundreds of titles regarding nonprofit management. The collection includes topics such as proposal writing, board governance, fundraising, and leadership. Most titles can be checked out and returned at any of our locations but are housed together at Main Library for convenient browsing.

TLCPL also offers several digital tools that can support your organization:

• For the nonprofit director or manager looking to grow his or her skill base, there is Lynda.com. Lynda.com hosts self-paced courses in both leadership/management, but it also includes a wide variety of software trainings. You can take courses on programs such as QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• For the nonprofit startup there is Small Business Builder which offers tools for both nonprofit and for-profit enterprises. This tool allows you to develop your mission, bylaws, and strategic plan as well as create operating budgets and financial forecasts. One of my favorite features for new nonprofits is a feature that allows you to track individual donations and incorporates them into your operating budget.
• And for the business executive director who may not have the time to keep up with the latest business books, TLCPL offers Business Book Summaries which gleans the important pieces from the book and generates a six page summary so you can digest the big picture quickly and refer back to the book if a specific part is of interest.

Taking advantage of these tools can aid in every facet of your organization and ultimately make you a stronger candidate when seeking grants or even in soliciting donations from the community.